Bolt-anchoring devices for concrete

ABSTRACT

An anchoring device for use in a concrete foundation employs a longitudinal, tubular member disposed about a given axis. A bolt, having a threaded end, and a head end, is pivotally mounted by means coupled to the head end within the tubular member, and below the top open face end of the member, at a distance which is less than the length of the bolt. The head end, as coupled, permits rotational motion of the bolt about axis perpendicular to the given axis, to allow the threaded end of the bolt to be positioned at any point within the area bounded by the top open face end.

United States Patent Primary Examiner-Frank L. Abbott Assistant Examiner-James L. Ridgill, Jr Anomey-Arthur L. Plevy ABSTRACT: An anchoring device for use in a concrete foundation employs a longitudinal, tubular member disposed about a given axis. A bolt, having a threaded end, and a head end, is pivotally mounted by means coupled to the head end within the tubular member, and below the top open face end of the member, at a distance which is less than the length of the bolt. The head end, as coupled, permits rotational motion of the bolt about axis perpendicular to the given axis, to allow the threaded end of the bolt to be positioned at any point within the area bounded by the top open face end.

BQLT-ANCIIORING DEVICES FOR CONCRETE BOLT ANCHORING DEVICES FOR CONCRETE This invention relates, in general, to anchoring devices for insertion into concrete structures, and more particularly, to adjustable anchoring devices for securing machine legs, column structures, and so on, to concrete foundations, walls or supports.

In present day practice the use of concrete anchoring devices or inserts has found widespread acceptance, in lieu of the former practice of drilling holes in the hardened concrete structure-for the insertion therein of lugs, expansion bolts and so on.

Accordingly, the prior art is replete with various embodiments of such anchoring or insert devices. Generally, such prior art devices can be classified in individual categories.

Certain devices, while adequately interfacing with the concrete to provide a rigid structure, contain a member to which a machine part could be secured. These devices were not provided with means of adjusting the position of the member. Therefore if these devices were not accurately positioned within the concrete, prior to hardening of the same, they would not register with the location of the holes in the securing legs or tabs of the machine base and could not be used.

In a second category, other prior art devices permitted adjustability within the anchoring insert, by means of floating or captive nuts. These devices included further means to assure that concrete could not enter into the insert so as to block the threads of such nuts and hence prevent the entrance and securing of a bolt. Such devices employed complicated machines parts in order to facilitate the adjustability aspects of the devices, and were and are expensive and difficult to fabricate.

Certain other devices, while, perhaps, of a simpler construction exhibited restricted lateral movement and although adjustable, were not fully adjustable, and therefore again required accurate alignment and placement within the concrete section.

Still other prior art devices suffer in that embedding them in concrete did not provide adequate bond stresses between the concrete and the device; and as such were prone to being pulled out of the concrete.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide improved anchoring devices for concrete, having the capability of full positional adjustment while providing adequate bond stresses with the concrete in economical and simple configurations.

This and other objects of the present invention relate to anchoring devices for embedding in concrete which utilize a longitudinal tubular member disposed about a given axis and having a top open face, a bolt member having a threaded end and a head end positioned within said tubular member and secured by coupling means which permit rotational motion of the bolt about axes substantially perpendicular to the given axis; while constraining the bolt from moving in directions along the given axis. The bolt, as coupled, is of a predetermined length with respect to the tubular member so that the threaded end protrudes from and above the open face for engagement therewith to a machine or other structure to be placed on a concrete foundation.

Other objects of this invention will appear in the following specification and appended claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, wherein like reference characters designate corresponding parts in the several views.

'In the drawings,

FIG. 1 is a front plan view of a device according to this in-. vention, employing a cutaway, to more clearly show certain features thereof.

FIG. 2 is a side plan view of the device shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of a device according to FIG. 1 with a cap member removed, and used for showing the positional adjustability of the device.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view through a concrete construction showing devices according to FIG. 1 securing a machine structure to a concrete foundation.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of an alternate embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view of still another embodiment secured in a concrete foundation.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view of a further embodiment.

In FIGS. 1 and 2 there is shown an anchoring device comprising a longitudinal tubular member 10 disposed about an axis II. The member 10 may be a hollow tubular, cylindrical shell, although other tubular geometrical configurations as rectangular, conical and so on can be employed. The member 10 has an open face 12 or top end and closed face 14 or bottom end. The member 10 may be fabricated from steel, cast iron, plastic or some other suitable material. The top end 12 is covered or enclosed by a suitable cap 15 having an aperture 16 for accommodating the threaded end of a bolt member 17 The tubular member 10 has two holes 20 and 21 oriented about the axis 18, which is substantially perpendicular to the axis 1 l. A member 22 or anchor rod is positioned through the two holes 20 and 21. Anchor rod 22 may be hollow or solid and fabricated from a relatively strong structural material as steel, cast iron etc.; and is preferably tightly fit within the holes 20 and 21 to exclude the entrance of concrete from the volume enclosed by member 10.

The eyebolt 17 has a threaded end and an eye end. Theweye end of the bolt 17 has an aperture of a slightly larger diameter then the width of the anchor rod 18, and encircles the same within the tubular member 10. The diameter of eye end aperture is such as to restrict excessive vertical movement of the bolt 17 along the axis 11, but permits the bolt 17 to slide easily along the anchor rod 22. The eye aperture as formed could be welded, soldered or in a similar manner secured to the shaft of the bolt 17 to provide extra strength. In a similar manner the bolt 17 can be rotated about theaxis 18 in any one of its slideable positions. Accordingly, with the cover member 15 removed the threaded end of the bolt 17 can'be located at any position contained in the area bounded by the open face 12 of the tubular member 10. Thus alignment of the bolt 17 with a hole in an object to be attached to the concrete is easily accomplished.

Once the object is thusly located a suitable nut 25 is used to anchor the object. It can be seen that for certain positions, the bolt 17 is at an angle with respect to the axis I8 and therefore with respect to a horizontal plane perpendicular to the axis 1 l and corresponding to a floor surface. Such angles depend upon the dimensions of the member 10, i.e. its width and length, and for reasonable length to width factors or ratios the angle subtended is not problem. Such devices may typically exhibit length to width factors of 2:5 to l, and still permit a nut to be suitably positioned on the thread end of the bolt. Of course, for any position of the bolt l7.parallel to axis 11 the above is not a consideration at all.

A second important characteristic of the anchoring devices shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 is the constraint or rotational motion about axis 11, which easily enables one to tighten the nut 25 without fully rotating the bolt 17 about axis 11.

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the anchor insert with the top cover 15 removed. Arrows show the degrees of motion perv mitted. It is seen that rotational motion, about axis 18, within the tubular member 10 is unrestricted. While, vertical motion along axis 11 is quite restricted, as is rotational motion about axis 11, due to the diameter of the eye aperture of bolt member 17.

It is important to note that the tubular member 10, the

anchor rod 22, the eyebolt 17, the nut 25 are catalog items",

25 can be fabricated from plastic, cardboard, wood or any such suitable material as its primary function is to restrain the bolt 18, contain the nut 25, to enable easy packaging of the complete assembly while further acting as a cover to prevent concrete from accidentally being dropped into the top open face, if uncovered.

Referring to FIG. 4, the utilization of such anchoring devices will become clear.

Prior to the connection of the machine, 31 to a suitable concrete foundation 32, the assembly of elements 10, 17, 18 including for example, the cover plate 15 and nut 25, as those elements shown in FIG. 1, is set in a partially poured concrete slab. The assembly as shown in FIG. 1, positioned and stabilized by the enclosed bottom face 14. The concrete slab 32 is then completely poured to provide a floor surface 36. By this means the assembly will be rigidly embedded in the concrete slab. After setting of the concrete the nut 25 is removed, as is the cover plate 15. A machine 31 is positioned over the open face end of the tubular member 10. The machine 31 as positioned is supported by blocks of wood, or other supports, to be above the floor 32 by a distance approximately equal to the length of the exposed thread end bolt 17. The bolt 17 is then moved into the desired position with respect to the openings 37 in the base of the machine 31. The slight vertical motion'of the bolt can aid in this alignment. Once the nuts 25 have been loosely coupled to the bolt 17 a grout, such as concrete, epoxy or so on, may be poured into the volume confined within member 10, to further anchor the assembly and further provide support and rigidity for the machine 31. The machine 31 is now lowered and the bolt 17 enters into and emerges from the holes 37 in the machine legs. The nuts 25 are then firmly secured and the machine 31 is properly fastened to the concrete floor.

Accordingly, the dimension 30 only has to be casually noted before the anchor device assembly is set in the concrete, and one is thereby assured that the freedom of motion, resulting in positional variation of the bolt 17, will enable final connection of the machine 32.

In any case the machine 31 as secured can be easily removed and relocated, merely be removing the nuts 25 and lifting the machine 31 from the floor; thereby avoiding the breaking up of the concrete, drilling and so on, which would have to be resorted to in prior art devices.

Similarly in many prior art devices the grout could not be poured into any volume within the anchoring device as many such devices use captive nut arrangements and hence the grout would block the threads of the nut or would lock the external bolt to theconcrete floor. The addition of the grout is desireable for additional strength, structural rigidity and the prevention of water which might freeze in the cavity and crack or damage the concrete.

FIG. shows a sectional view of an anchoring device according to an alternate embodiment. A longitudinal tubular member 40 is disposed about an axis 41. Member 40 has an open top face 42 and an open bottom face 43. A spherical member 44 fabricated from steel, or some other material, has a cavity 45 therein oriented about the axis 41, which does not extend through the member 44, thus providing an enclosed bottom surface. The member 44 has two apertures or holes 47 and 48 oriented about axis 49, perpendicular to axis 41 which are contiguous with cavity 45. An anchor rod 50 is inserted through the holes 47 and 48 and extends through the cavity 45 and protrudes from the sides of the spherical member 44 as shown. An eyebolt 46 has an eye end whose aperture encircles.

the anchor rod 49 within cavity 45. The threaded endof the eyebolt 46 extends upwards through the tubular member 40 and is held in position by means of the cover plate 51- and the nut 52. The flanged ends of the secured cover plate 51 serve to hold the member 40 in contact with the member 44. The unit is then set in concrete, in a similar manner to that described in FIG. 4.

After the concrete has set the nut 52 is removed as is the cover plate 51. The bolt 46 can now be positioned within the area bounded by the open top face of member 40. The action and movement of the bolt member 46 being similar to that action and motion described in FIG. 3.

Since the tubular member 40, as described, above is not attached to the member 44, and is held in place by the action of the cover plate 51, the bolt 46, and the nut 52, it can be removed and a larger cylinder 54, shown dashed, can be used in lieu, with an appropriate larger cover plate 56, also shown dashed. The rotational motion of the bolt 46 is of course, limited within the boundaries dictated by the tubular member 40, As can be seen from FIG. 5, if the tubular 40 were not present the bolt 45 could traverse the arc 58, to a position indicated by line 55. Hence if a tubular member as 54 were placed as shown, and secured; when the cover plate 56 was removed, the bolt 46, as mounted, would still be moveable by rotational motion to any point contained in the new area bounded by the open face of tubular member 54. Thus the embodiment shown, has a greater degree of flexibility, dependent upon the tolerances of the particular task to be performed, and could accommodate different tubular members while providing similar bolt positional capability. Of course, the bolt 46, independent of tubular member size, will only exhibit slideable motion within the bounds determined by the sidewalls of cavity 45; but can assume all other positions for various sized tubular members, as 40 and 54, by rotational motion.

FIG. 6 shows a sectional view of still another alternate embodiment of an anchoring device comprising a longitudinal tubular member 60 of a combined frustoconical and cylindrical configuration disposed about anaxis 61. The member 60 has a top open face end 63 and a bottom open face end 64. The bottom open face end 64 is preferable when utilizing a frustoconical base section, as such sections, with self-contained closed bottom surfaces are more difficult to fabricate. A bottom plate 64 serves to cover the bottom open face end 64 and has a hole 66 therein oriented about axis 61. The hole 66 is chamfered at the bottom end thereof, to a specified angle with respect to axis 61. A bolt member 67 has a threaded end and a head end of a spherical configuration, the surface contour of which is slidable within the chamfer encircling the bottom of the hole in the base member 65. The threaded end is inserted through a hole 58in a top cover plate 69 and secured thereto and to the assembly shown by means of a nut 70.

The assembled fastener or anchoring device is first embedded in a newly poured concrete slab 71 with the axis of the bolt 67 in the approximate position to engage the hole of the structure to be mounted on the concrete. The remainder of the concrete is poured to form a floor surface 72. After the concrete has set, the nut 70 and the top cover plate 69 are removed. The bolt 60 may then be swiveled on the ball and socket joint formed by the head end of the boltand thechamfer surrounding the hole 66. The concrete as surrounding the head end of the bolt, when hardened forms the remainder of the ball joint enclosure. The bolt may be sprayed or coated prior to insertion of the assembly in the concrete with silicon, grease or other substance which will not adhere to concrete. The rotational motion of the bolt, as shown, enables one to position the bolt within any point in the area bounded by the open face 63 and thusly may be moved until the bolt is in proper alignment with the mounting hole in the apparatus to be mounted on the concrete floor 72.

1f the apparatus has four mounting holes, each of four anchoring devices, as shown, would be embedded in the concrete and aligned as described. Next the apparatus-to-be mounted is lowered to a point an inch or more above the concrete floor with the fastener bolts as 60, just projecting through the mounting holes.

A grout-or epoxy 73 is then poured into the hollow form which surrounds each bolt, andallowed'to harden. With the frustoconical base configuration, theengagement of the inner onto the floor and the nuts, as 70 secured. If the bolt 60 tends to turn about axis 61 on the ball joints, a wrench may be used on the flattened portion 74 at the threaded end of the bolt 60.

In FIG. 7, a longitudinal tubular member 81 is disposed about an axis 80. The member 81 may be fabricated from a suitable metal or plastic material. The member 81 has an open top face end 82 and a open bottom face end 83. The bottom face end 83 is covered by a base cap 84 dimensioned larger than the bottom open face and providing a flanged surface about the periphery of the bottom of the member 81. The base cap 84 has a hole therethrough oriented about axis 80. A yieldable member 85 is substantially congruent with the base cap 84 and has a similar hole therethrough. Member 85 may be fabricated from an elastomer, as rubber, or a synthetic as a soft plastic or a meshed material offering little resistance to compression and expansion modes. A washer or cap member 86 congruent with member 84 and 85, and oriented about axis 80.

A bolt member 88 having a threaded end portion and a head portion, of a diameter larger than the aforementioned holes, is

L member 81. The hole accommodates the threaded portion of r the bolt 88 allowing it to pass therethrough and extend above the surface of the plate 89. A nut 90 then serves to secure the bolt to the cover plate Zlfand hence compresses the entire assembly securing the elements mentioned, to the tubular member 81. I

The assembled fastener, as described, is first embedded in a concrete slab 92, with the axis 80 in an appropriate position determined by the dimensions and location of the machine to i be secured. After the concrete has set, the nut 90 is removed as is cover plate 89. The bolt 88 may be rotated back and forth within the confines of the hollow of member 81, to assume any position within the area bounded by the open face 82. The movement is achievable by the compression and expansion of the yieldable material comprising member 85. As the bolt is moved, for example, to the right, the portion of .member 85 disposed between the right hand section of members 84 and 86 compresses, while the corresponding left side portion expands and vice versa for opposite motion. The elastic skin 91, enables this motion by preventing the concrete from sticking to base members.

A device, as an antenna mast, or a machine can be mounted on the concrete floor 95 using the anchoring device of FIG. 7 in a similar manner described for the device of FIGS. 4 and 6.

After the device is mounted a grout is then poured into the hollow form which surrounds the bolt 88 and allowed to harden. If the hollow form tubular member includes a tapered portion, as shown in FIG. 7, it will tightly lock the member in place. However, the protruding base section or flanged surface will be more than sufficient for most purposes.

When the nut 90 is tightened to secure the machine to the floor any tendency of the bolt to turn about the axis 80 can be prevented by applying a wrench to the flattened section 93 of the tip of the bolt 88.

A similar restraint can be provided by utilizing a bolt 88, having a flat surface contiguous with the inner portion of the bolt head. In this manner the hold drilled in member 86 is square or rectangular and is slightly larger than the flat to prevent the rotation of the bolt member 88.

It is understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and arrangement as described above, as it is understood that the phraseology or terminology employed herein is for purposes of description and not of limitation.

What I claim is: 1. An anchoring device for use in a concrete construction to secure a machine or similar article to a surface of said construction, said device comprising,

a. a longitudinal tubular member disposed about a given axis and having a top open face and a bottom enclosed face, said bottom enclosed face having a hole oriented about said axis,

b. a yieldable member fabricated from a material having a hole therein substantially of the same diameter as said hole in said bottom face,

'c. a plate member congruent with said yieldable member and having a hole therein substantially of the same diameter as said hole in said yieldable member,

. a bolt, having a threaded end and a head end, said head end having a diameter larger than any-of said holes, said bolt positioned through said hole in said plate member, said yieldable member and said bottom face, and extending within said tubular member along said axis, permitting said bolt to exhibit rotational motion about said axis, due to the compression and consequent expansion of said yieldable material as said bolt is moved away from said axis,

e. an elastic skin member coupled to said tubular member covering substantially all the exposed surfaces of said plate member, said yieldable member and said bolthead while securing the same to said tubular member, said elastic skin further adapted to resist adhering to concrete, whereby when said anchoring device is embedded in a concrete structure, said rotational motion is still permitted.

f. a grout material is disposed within said tubular member and surrounding said bolt for constraining any motion of said bolt member after said bolt is in a desired one of the plurality of positions permitted by said rotational motion,

g. means coupled to said threaded end of said bolt to couple said machine to said construction.

2. The anchoring device in accordance with claim 1 further comprising a cover member substantially congruent with said top open face of said tubular member, said cover member having a hole therein oriented about said given axis when said cover member is placed in congruency, to permit said threaded end of said bolt to protrude therethrough above said face, and

means coupling said threaded member to said cover member to maintain the position of said bolt along said given axis. 

1. An anchoring device for use in a concrete construction to secure a machine or similar article to a surface of said construction, said device comprising, a. a longitudinal tubular member disposed about a given axis and having a top open face and a bottom enclosed face, said bottom enclosed face having a hole oriented about said axis, b. a yieldable member fabricated from a material having a hole therein substantially of the same diameter as said hole in said bottom face, c. a plate member congruent with said yieldable member and having a hole therein substantially of the same diameter as said hole in said yieldable member, d. a bolt, having a threaded end and a head end, said head end having a diameter larger than any of said holes, said bolt positioned through said hole in said plate member, said yieldable member and said bottom face, and extending within said tubular member along said axis, permitting said bolt to exhibit rotational motion about said axis, due to the compression and consequent expansion of said yieldable material as said bolt is moved away from said axis, e. an elastic skin member coupled to said tubular member covering substantially all the exposed surfaces of said plate member, said yieldable member and said bolthead while securing the same to said tubular member, said elastic skin further adapted to resist adhering to concrete, whereby when said anchoring device is embedded in a concrete structure, said rotational motion is still permitted. f. a grout material is disposed within said tubular member and surrounding said bolt for constraining any motion of said bolt member after said bolt is in a desired one of the plurality of positions permitted by said rotational motion, g. means coupled to said threaded end of said bolt to couple said machine to said construction.
 2. The anchoring device in accordance with claim 1 further comprising a cover member substantially congruent with said top open face of said tubular member, said cover member having a hole therein oriented about said given axis when said cover member is placed in congruency, to permit said threaded end of said bolt to protrude therethrough above said face, and means coupling said threaded member to said cover member to maintain the position of said bolt along said given axis. 